2021-2022 ROSTER TALK: [ARCHIVED]

[F Gump]

Agreed.  This isn't that hard if we don't attach dollars and draft status and strictly make this a meritocracy.  

Wood      Maxi    
                                                              
                                                
DFS        Big Wing
              
Bullock     THJ       
                     
              
Brunson
               Dinwiddie
Luka

From there, Powell, Dragic, Greenikina, and Bertans fill in specific roles as needed.  Maxi isn't a 3/4 and neither is THJ.  Taurean Prince is and so are some other people who likely fit that $6mm slot we have available.  There are some minutes to be had there.

I moved your backups in your chart to where I think they really fit. In the wrong places, it blurs the situation. You had Maxi sliding down to the 4, but if you think about it, that makes your big wing "hole" even smaller -- so I moved him to the backup big. I moved THJ up to the wings only - he's not a point, and won't be replacing any of the Mavs' big 3 there. 

I don't disagree with a meritocracy idea. There are certainly some specific players I would love to have by using the txMLE, and good enough that I would just figure it out later on the minutes. Not sure any of them would want txMLE, but I don't mind letting them know we like them enough to offer every penny we can offer, and we can see them having a real place to contribute next to Luka and friends. Some are PF-ish wings with some defensive grit and who can make 3s; others are traditional centers who rebound/defend enough to be worth having a 4th big on the roster, where you end up having to use Wood or Maxi at the 4 with some regularity. 

OTOH, I still don't think there's much of a minutes hole at the "big wing" behind DFS. DFS played 33 mpg last season, and if/when you also will be giving some PF minutes to Bertans when you need a sniper (and in a meritocracy, you will need that and he will be the guy), what's left? The big wing "problem" is really just a sliver of minutes, with plenty of other in-house ways to fill them.

I also think they will have an ongoing secondary agenda to cover, which is to spur development and trade values, for future needs. That's one reason I think it makes sense to give enough backup minutes to THJ and Bertans, so that their value to you gets better but also the perception of their desirability and trade value is enhanced. I suspect the Mavs will be shopping again at the TDL and then in summer 2023, and better assets to trade brings suitors with things you need.